God’s Plan and My Plans
1Sam 29:3-10
Synopsis 1Sam 29:3-10 11/4/2018
The Philistine commanders assembled their army for battle against King Saul and the army of Israel. The Philistines were ruled by a system of five kingdoms. And, each of these was centered on one of five major cities.
Accordingly, each city–state brought forces to the battleground. And from these, the Philistine leaders constructed their army. As the leaders prepared the Philistine army for the final push to Jezreel, they began the work of arranging their forces. The order of battle was a critical strategic concern.
It was at this point that the Philistine commanders realized that Achish, the king of Gath, had brought Hebrew fighters. Unsurprisingly, the commanders rejected Achish’s plan to include the Hebrews in the order of battle. And so, the other Philistine kings forced King Achish to send David and his men back to Ziklag.
David’s Plan, God’s Plan
This was the moment that David had waited for. He wanted to serve as the rear guard of the Philistine army. When the Philistines entered battle against Saul, David would surely have attacked. And from this advantageous position, he would have heroically won the battle for Israel.
Without a doubt, David was sure this would win great victory for Israel. And the victory would forever restore his place in Israel.
But God had already determined the outcome of the battle. Samuel had prophesied Saul and Jonathan’s death. David’s plan was not God’s plan.
God’s Plan and My Plans
In this respect, I am like David. I have all these plans. And they’re good plans. What’s more, they are plans that honor God and serve other people.
And God doesn’t hate my plans. It’s just that He has other plans. In fact, His plan is an ultimate plan. So, from His viewpoint, my job is to meet the challenge before me. But it’s never my job to create new challenges to meet.
Even so, my tendency is to build sandcastles of my own design. I sit on the beach thinking, “I’ve really accomplished something”. And then comes the tide and the wave. And I wonder that God refused to preserve my sandcastle.
Sure, He could have preserved it. But, to what end?
It’s time for me to choose to worship the God who controls tide and wave. And then I can let go of my idols – and my sandcastles.
Will one who argues with the Almighty be corrected? Let him who would instruct God give answer! Job 40:2
